Impatiens plant named Bonaire

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea impatiens named Bonaire, particularly characterized by its compact growth habit with excellent branching characteristics, large, deep pink flowers, early flowering and very floriferous habits, medium green foliage, and suitability to 4 inch and 6 inch pots, and 8 inch hanging basket cultures.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of plant known as Impatiens and commercially known as new Guinea Impatiens. The new cultivar is known by the cultivar name Bonaire, and was developed by the inventor Ludwig Kientzler in Gensingen, Federal Republic of Germany by crossing the cultivar designated ZI 242 (seed parent) with the cultivar BR 930 (pollen parent). Both parents are proprietary cultivars used in the breeding program.

Asexual reproduction by terminal (stemp tip) cuttings taken by me or under my supervision at Gensingen, Federal Republic of Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new impatiens are stabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new impatiens from both its parent varieties and other cultivars of this general type known and used in the floriculture industry;

1. Compact growth habit with excellent branching characteristics. Plants in 16.5 cm pots were 18 cm tall and 30 cm wide, eight weeks after first flowering.

2. Large, deep pink flowers. Open flowers measure up to 6.0 cm in diameter.

3. Early flowering and very floriferous. Plants in 16.5 cm pots were in flower 6 weeks after planting.

4. Medium green foliage.

5. Well suited both to 4" pot and 6" pot, and 8" hanging basket cultures.

Bonaire is similar in many respects to Dark Delias, disclosed in my pending application. The flower color of Bonaire is a deep pink, similar in color to Dark Delias but a little darker The leaf color of Bonaire is much darker than Dark Delias. Bonaire has a more compact growth habit, darker foliage, larger flowers and blooms earlier than Dark Delias. Reference is made to Chart A at the end of the specification which compares certain characteristics of Bonaire and Dark Delias.

The accompanying colored photographis a top perspective view of the new cultivar, showing color as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new impatiens cultivar based on plants grown under commercial practice in Encinitas, Calif. Plants were started as rooted cuttings and were transplanted in mid-November into 16.5 cm (6.5 inch) pots, one pot per plant. By mid-January, plants were growing vigorously and were in flower. The values, measurements and observations noted below were taken from plants in full bloom in mid-February.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Parentage: Cross between ZI 242 (seed) and BR 930 (pollen).

Asexual reproduction:

A. Cutting type.--Tip, with stems 2--3 cm long and developing to 4-5 cm after 21 days in propagation.

B. Time to initiate roots.--8-10 days at 23° C.; nicely developed root mass in 18-21 days.

C. Rooting habit.--Numerous, fibrous, adventitious roots from the stem.

Plant description:

A. Form.--Symmetrical, bush shaped, flowering herb, with self-branching characteristics giving the plant a full appearance. Pinching is not recommended since it does not enhance branching and only delays flowering by removing flower buds.

B. Habit of growth.--Vigorous, self-branching habit, producing whorls of leaves and flowers. Growth is indeterminate and flowering is continuous.

C. Foliage description.--Leaves are simple. Lower leaves on stems in whorls of 2-3. Higer on stem, leaves in whorls of 5-7, but mostly 5. 1. Leaf shape: Broadly elliptic to ovate. Leaf blade tips are acuminate; base of immature leaves are acute, mature leaves, attenuate. 2. Leaf blade size: Mature leaves 10-12 cm long and 4-4.5 cm wide. 3. Petiole length: 2-2.5 cm. 4. Leaf Margin: Ciliated and finely serrated. 5. Leaf texture: Slightly rugose. a. Upper surface: Glabrous. b. Under surface: Glabrous. 6. Leaf color: Dark green with a red midvein. a. Upper surface: Immature leaves near 147A. Mature leaves darker than 147A. b. Under surface: Greyed purple, near 183A. 7. Venation: Pinnate.

Flowering description:

A. Flowering habits.--Very floriferous. Flowering is continuous. Flowers develop progressively around the whorl of leaves, taking 5-7 days from buds which show color, to bloom. Flowers are single and large, lasting for 2-3 weeks.

B. Natural flowering season.--Flowering is indeterminate and occurs throughout the year. Quantity of flowers increases with increasing light intensity and duration. However, floriferousness may wane during hot summer days in temperature climates.

C. Flower buds.--Ellipsoidal and covered with 3 sepals plus rudimentary sepals fused into the under surface of the superior petal. A spur originates from the base of the inferior sepal. Spur is red and 4.5-5 cm long.

D. Flowers Borne.--Singly, on red pedicels about 4 cm long.

E. Quantity of flowers.--One flower per leaf. Flowers occur progressively around the whorl of leaves so that tight buds to mature flowers are visible at the same time.

F. Petals.--Petals open nearly perpendicular to the pedicel so that the plane of the flower surface is nearly flat. 1. Number of petals: Five (5) petals, all overlapping. 2. Shape: All petals are heart-shaped. Superior petal has a broad base. Other petals have a pointed base. 3. Color: Deep pink with a purplish-red eye. a. Upper surface: Between 58B and 58C. Purplish-red eye near 61B. b. Under surface: Between 58B and 58C. 4. Flower size: Up to 6.0 cm in diameter

G. Reproductive organs.--Flowers are monoecious. 1. Stamens: Five (5), broad and fused to form a tube around the ovary; red in color. 2. Anther: Hooded and cream colored. 3. Pollen: Cream colored. 4. Stigm: Five pointed star, colorless. 5. Styles: Very short. 6. Ovary: 5-celled, 4-5 mm long until fertilized. Grows to 1 cm or longer after fertilization; purple.

Resistance to disease: Good resistance to common stem and root diseases, Rhizoctonia and Pythium. Botrytis may be problem in humid or mist propagation environments, but no greater than with other New Guinea impatiens cultivars.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                                      Bonaire    Dark Delias                                            ______________________________________                                         Flower Color   RHS 58 B-C   RHS 3 A-B                                          Plant Height   18 cm        20 cm                                              (above the pot)                                                                Plant Width    30 cm        35 cm                                              Weeks to flower                                                                               6 wks        7 wks                                              Flower Diameter                                                                               6 cm         5.5 cm                                             ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea impatiens named Bonaire, as illustrated and described. 